December surprise!

[partsRheavy]

I haven't seen signs of raccoons for about 3 months fortunately.

I am tempted to "kidnap" the babies and rear them indoors the way I did the 2 summer mail-orders. However right now the temp outside is fairly warm and I think I will go out there a few times each night to check on them plus make sure there's chick starter and water in the next box where they're at.

This is my first time with a broody....

If it gets real cold...I've got a box and a brooder lamp...

 

[franklinstreetwest]

What a SERIOUS lookin Mama!! She looks like she would take on a giant to protect her brood!! That look in her eye is a "Go ahead, make my day!!"

Congrats on the December surprise!!!

 

[SteveBaz]

Very very cute story momma and chickies.

 

[UncleTommy]

those chicks look like they belong in a disney cartoon, all different colors

. Is the mama hen stand offish with you? If she is I'd take the babies before she teaches them to mistrust you. Either way you'll be feeding them, this way you get to keep the chicks when they grow up and you won't have a feral flocking eating your food and giving you no eggs.

 

[partsRheavy]

It has just started raining and rain is predicted for a few days. I'm thrilled about this because Texas has been in a drought but now I need to see that they stay dry.

I'll probably wind up kidnapping the little ones before they start wandering. Mama is OK but she's a little bit feral and apt to do feral-chicken stuff like roost in trees and eat cat food from the backyard dish rather than join the henhouse flock. She isn't exactly an "egg-producer."

Ack!!! I'm torn between mama's superior warm feathers and my house......

 

[UncleTommy]

as someone who has had a brooder in his closet, if you can socialize them without taking them away from mama leave them there. From the pic it looks like she is still hatching them out, I like the hatching part, the growing them out part....not so much. I think i;ll start selling chicks in the spring, <3 hatching, hate chick poo.

 

[partsRheavy]

I'll be checking on them and giving water/chick starter.....Mama and babies are doing Sleepytime now!

 

[Denab]

OMG how cute

 

[partsRheavy]

The rain hasn't been too heavy and their nest box is dry and sheltered. Dropped another couple ounces of chick starter in front of them and all are eating. Mom briefly got down out of the box but went back in after just a couple minutes. Outdoor temperature is around 60.

 

[partsRheavy]

Who's the Daddy?

Well I know it's not a Leghorn....

These are mama's former boyfriends. She was infatuated with runaround Leghorns. She hung out with them CONSTANTLY. (Don't ask me why there were runaround Leghorns here last spring....). The Leghorn roos basically got culled back in late July. Now I sort of miss them.

These are our 2 current roosters. They live down at the henhouse but I guess mama made a quick visit down there a month or two ago....

.

This guy was a little aggro with me during the summer but he has chilled out because I put the henhouse on a more regular open/close schedule and I've brought him some more girlfriends including the Rafter Clique. He is Rooster No.2.

(This is the Rafter Clique. They're doing nicely on the Easter Egg production line).

This is Gentleman Rooster. He's always been really sweet and greets me with wings flapping. He is Rooster Numero Uno. I hope he's the Daddy!!

THESE guys met the stewpot recently (especially the barred rocks). They're too young and were in a cage back 22 days ago...no access to Mama. A few lucky fellows took a vow of chastity and turned into capons recently but the others visited the kitchen for their last sojourn!

THIS guy came home with me about a month ago. He's the sweetest Brabanter you have ever met and he is ALL ABOUT THE TREATS! However I've never seen him crow or show any interest in girls. He has deformed feet and very small wattles. I call him Hipster Chicken because he has a funky topknot and acts, um, rather metrosexual....even though I've looked under his wing and he isn't a capon.